News, commentary, and insights on adventures, and adventurers, from around the globe.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Adventure Tech: GoPro Releases Hero3 Action Camera

GoPro, the leader in compact video cameras for action sports, has released the latest edition of their popular Hero line. The new Hero3 goes on sale today and features a host of upgrades that are sure to please fans of previous products.

The Hero3 comes in three flavors, at three different price points, with each successive step up adding some worthy additions for the price. The entry level White Edition costs just $199 and is capable of shooting video at 1080p and 960p, at 30fps, as well as 720p at 60fps. It also features built-in WiFi and a 5 megapixel sensor. Jumping up to the Silver Edition raises the price to $299 but gives the camera an 11 megapixel sensor (which is an odd size to say the least) and increased shooting speeds. By far the most of these cameras however is the Black Edition with its 12 mp sensor. It is capable of shooting video and even higher resolutions, including 4k although it is only capable of 12 fps in that mode. The Black Edition also features increased low-light performance and comes with a handy WiFi remote, which will help to make it the most popular option amongst budding filmmakers I'm sure. This high-end version of the Hero3 will set you back $399.

All versions of the new camera are smaller and more compact than previous GoPro cams, although they remain as solid and rugged as always. Each of them is also compatible with new GoPro apps for iOS and Android that will let you control your Hero3 in ways that weren't possible in the past.

All in all, this looks like a great upgrade for GoPro and to show off the quality of the new Hero3, they've released the video below. Even if you're not in the market for a camera like this one, at the very least you'll soon be enjoying better action sports videos on the Internet.